Job Position Summaries

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Background

There are more than 1,300 Social Security offices located nationwide
(including our Headquarters offices located in Baltimore, Maryland).
Our jobs offer the opportunity to provide a service to the public,
people already receiving Social Security benefits and people seeking
benefits for the first time. You will come in contact with
people who have a variety of problems and questions. SSA benefit
programs serve young and old, wealthy and poor, your family and
the family next door - people from all walks of life. We even
provide Social Security benefits to individuals living in other
countries.

You can occupy one of a number of positions in which you will conduct
investigations and make decisions regarding the approval or denial
of claims for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.
Many involve direct contact with the public, others require contact
primarily by telephone. Your will receive training in Social Security
and State laws in order to perform the duties. Because SSA
operates in an automated environment, you will be trained to use
data processing equipment. Whatever your preference, SSA has
the right job for you.

Brief Summary of Position Descriptions

Note:
Many claims representatives and service/telephone service representatives
deal with the public where bilingual ability is highly desirable.
Also, the ability to communicate with deaf or hearing-impaired
individuals using signed English or American Sign Language is
desirable for some positions.

Claims Representative/Claims Authorizer

Employees in these positions assist individuals
in establishing entitlement to benefits under Social Security
programs. You will have contact with the public either
by face-to-face interviews or by telephone. These contacts
will allow you to obtain, clarify, and verify information which
will be used to analyze claims and make decisions regarding entitlement
to benefits. Depending upon your qualifications, you
may enter these positions at either the GS-5 or GS-7 grade level.
If you perform satisfactorily, you will be promoted to subsequent
grade levels until you reach the highest grade in this position
- GS-11. Career advancement from this position is
usually to technical or management positions.

Service/Telephone Service Representative

These positions involve providing assistance to the public similar
to the claims representative position. Employees answer
a wide variety of questions from the public by interviewing the
individual, investigating the situation and resolving the problem.
Service representatives are located in the Social Security field
offices and have direct contact with the public. Telephone
Service representatives are located in a number of teleservice
centers across the country and deal with the public only by telephone.
Entry into these positions is usually GS-5. Career
advancement from these positions can be to claims representative
positions or to positions in the teleservice center.

Benefit Authorizer

Benefit Authorizers are responsible for updating beneficiary
records, making sure that payment is made to the beneficiary and
preparing correspondence to beneficiaries regarding their benefits.
These positions may require contact with the public by telephone.
Entry into these positions is at GS-5 or GS-7.

Benefit Authorizers can advance to the GS-9 level. Further
career development is to technical assistant or specialist positions
or the claims authorizer position.

Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR)

Mission and Purpose

The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) shares the same mission
as the rest of the Social Security Administration (SSA):

"To promote the economic security of the nation's people through
compassionate and vigilant leadership in shaping and managing America's
Social Security programs."

ODAR holds hearings and renders decisions on claims denied at the
initial level. Most of the work involves disability issues.

The Hearing Office staff is comprised of clerical, technical, and professional positions. The grades of the positions range from GS-4 Case Technician (OA) to GS-14 Hearing Office Director, and SES (Senior Executive Service) level for the Administrative Law Judges (ALJ's).

Positions

The nature of the work is front-line service to Social
Security claimants, technical casework, and administrative functions.
Staff perform work in both individual and group environments.

Important Information:

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Disclaimer

The Social Security Administration (SSA) website contains links to websites not affiliated with the United States government. These may include State and Local governmental agencies, international agencies, and private entities.

SSA cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by such websites. If we provide a link to such a website, this does not constitute an endorsement by SSA or any of its employees of the information or products presented on the non-SSA website.

Also, such websites are not within our control and may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility policies. Once you visit such a website, you are subject to the policies of that site.